DESERT RECLUSE

Scientific name

Loxosceles deserta

Size

The average size of mature Desert Recluse spiders is approximately 1/2 of an inch, with a leg span of
1.5 to 2 inches. Male and female are similar in size.

Description

Desert Recluse spiders are generally yellowish-tan to tan in color. The typical violin
shaped marking of the recluse spiders is not apparent on the Desert Recluse. The abdomen
is a uniform color, with no markings on it.

Desert Recluse spiders, and the other related recluse spiders, have six eyes arranged in three
pairs of two. This is a rather unique feature, as most spiders have eight eyes. A magnified view
of the eyes can be seen in a photo below.

Distribution

The Desert Recluse is found in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Outside the United States,
the Desert Recluse is found in Mexico.
Map does not show area of true distribution, only the states in which there is a population.
Actual distribution in any highlighted state may be limited.

Notes

The Desert Recluse is known to have a necrotic bite. This means that the bite causes severe damage to
the skin and surrounding tissue, resulting in a large open sore, called a necrotic lesion, that
takes a long time to heal. In some cases, systemic effects (i.e. headache, nausea, abdominal cramps,
joint stiffness, and/or fever) have been reported as well.

Often the Recluse spiders are called Violin Spiders or
Fiddleback Spiders, because of the
characteristic violin marking. Not all recluse spiders have the Violin marking, such as the Desert
Recluse which lacks the violin. Recluse spiders are also called Brown Spiders
in some areas.